CHIAVARI, Italy –
December 8th is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, and the day
many Italians set up their nativity crèches. The crèches are an important part
of the holiday, and are kept on display until January 6th, the
feast of the Three Kings or Magi.
My friend Andrea told
me he spends December 8th with his four-year old nephew Luca. They put
together the pieces of the family crèche, and while they are doing that Andrea
tells Luca the story of the nativity. As Luca’s godfather, it is part of Andrea’s
responsibility to participate in Luca’s religious instruction, by teaching him about
the birth of Jesus.
I don’t think the
story I’m about to tell you is the same story that Andrea tells his nephew, as
this is the story of how the crèche came to be, but I think you might find it
interesting anyway. It is the story of the creation of the Christmas crèche and
it starts with St. Francis of Assisi.
In the year 1223,
St. Francis, was planning to celebrate Christmas in the town of Greccio, an old hill town of the region of Lazio. He had
planned to say midnight mass at the chapel of the local Franciscan monastery,
but he soon realized that the chapel would be too small to hold all the people
of the town. So he found a space near the town square and set up an altar
there.
The
nativity story is taken from the accounts of the birth of Jesus as recalled in
the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. Luke's narrative describes an angel announcing
the birth of Jesus to shepherds, who then visit the humble site where Jesus was
found lying in a manger,
his bed a feed trough for cattle.
Matthew's
narrative tells of "wise men" the Magi, who followed a star to the house
where Jesus dwelt, and seems to suggest that the Magi found Jesus two
years after his birth, rather than on the exact day. Matthew's account does not
mention angels or shepherds, while Luke's narrative is silent on the Magi
and the star.
The
Magi and angels are often displayed with the Holy Family and the shepherds in
nativity scenes, although there is no scriptural basis for their presence.
Nonetheless, St.
Francis wanted to convey the story to the people of Greccio, knowing full well that
like most people of that time, they were illiterate, and therefore not be able
to read the story as set down by Mathew and Luke.
As he wanted to
commemorate the birth of the Infant Jesus in the most serious and solemn way
possible, but still give the people an idea of the event, he decided to prepare
a manger. He took his inspiration from a recent trip
to the Holy Land, where he visited the place believed to be the birthplace of
Jesus.
After he got
permission from the Pope, he put out bundles of hay, and placed the hay along
with an ox and a donkey near the side of the outdoor altar he had prepared. Then
he called the people together and with his makeshift manger in the background,
he told them the story of the birth of Jesus,
Today, we still put
out Nativity scenes, sometimes under the Christmas tree, or as most do here in
Italy, on a table. But no matter where they are placed, they are strong daily reminders
of that very special night.
Listed below are
four towns where you can see a living crèche this holiday season, but there are
many more towns throughout Italy where the nativity is recreated. If you are
visiting Italy during this period, check with the local tourist office for
events near you.
Living
Creche, Greccio, Rieti
The
home of the first living nativity.
24 December at 9:30PM; December 26-28 and January 1-6 at 5:45PM.
Living
Creche, Morcone, Benevento
January 3-4 from 3PM to 7:30PM, and at 6PM and 8PM the story of the Navitity.
Living
Creche, San Biagio, Mantova
December 25/26/29 , aand January 5/6/12 from
3:30PM to 7PM
Living
Creche, Dogliani, Cuneo
December 23-24 at 8:30
Let us keep alive the true meaning of this
season.
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